| waynesot
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
I'm getting ready to buy a used D300 locally from a private party. I will be able to look at and test the D300 before purchasing. Two different private parties have the camera for sale and I have two options (Both owners claim the camera is in mint condition):
1) D300: 1 year old, all original packaging and original items included. Also included is the uncompleted warranty card.
2) D300: 5 months old, all original packaging and original items included, but owner does not have the warranty card.
Is there any way to tell how old the camera is from the serial number? What information does the serial number tell you?
Both owners want $1200 USD for the camera. Assuming both cameras are mint & equal in all regards, which should I go with? Does having the warranty card really matter?
Thanks - Wayne
| | Mar 17, 2009 at 06:47 PM |
|
|
Dav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
I don't believe the D300 actually came with a warranty card, so anyone saying it comes with one is most likely confusing a little FYI sheet with a warranty slip.
There's no real way to tell on a serial number, besides obviously the higher the serial number the newer it is.
I would be more interested in shutter count (to gauge use) and then just check it out cosmetically.
Dave
| | Mar 17, 2009 at 06:54 PM |
|
|
davenfl
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
Presuming they are both USA Nikon cameras and look to be equal cosmetically the serial number doesn't make any difference. As Pixelcharm said the shutter count is the real issue. Once you own it you will want to make sure it you have upgraded it to the lastest Nikon firmware.
Edited on Mar 17, 2009 at 07:02 PM · View previous versions
| | Mar 17, 2009 at 07:00 PM |
|
|
jasoncallen
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
Having the warranty card ONLY matters if you also have their original sales receipt from where the camera was purchased.
A serial # tells you a few things, provided that you have an index of Nikon Serial #s:
-When the camera/lens was made. Serial #s are sequential, so if you know what the starting production date was, and how many were produced over a set length of time, you can get an approximate 'birthday' for your camera or lens. For example (not real serial #s, just an example), a 50mm f/1.4 AFS with a serial # of 0000001 is produced in October 2008. If Nikon makes a steady 3000/month, then a lens with serial #0012000 came off the lines in January 2009.
-Where the camera/lens came from, and where the product was licensed for sale.
You can call up Nikon USA and have them run a serial # for you on their toll free, 7 day a week, 8 AM- 2 AM EST service line. 1-800-645-6689. They can verify that a Nikon product is a USA licensed product, or a 'gray market' import.
If you can get the original sales receipt, I'd get the one with the blank warranty card!
| | Mar 17, 2009 at 07:01 PM |
|
|
Dav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
I'm almost positive that all USA model D300's do not come with a warranty card. Can anyone actually confirm that they received one?
Both of my D300s which I bought new (one from B&H, one from Costco) did not come with any warranty card. I even called up Nikon and was told the D300 did not ship with a warranty card and that it was also unnecessary for service.
Dave
| | Mar 17, 2009 at 07:04 PM |
|
|
Kerry Pierce
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
I have a d300 registration paper in the box, but not a warranty card. There isn't even that in my d700 box. I registered all of my stuff online...
| | Mar 17, 2009 at 09:58 PM |
|
|
RKH
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
Unless someone really went crazy with the camera, I don't feel a difference of a few thousand shutter activations should make that much of a difference. Newer pro or prosumer nikons will last a long time as far as shutter activations. See
http://olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d200.htm and although there is really not much data yet for the D300, check out some of the other Nikon camers listed on the right of the page and you may be surprised.
Kim
Western burbs of Chicago
OOPS, listed the link for the D200 but click on the D300 on the right of the page to see what is there.
| | Mar 17, 2009 at 10:45 PM |
|
|
trenchmonkey
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
| | p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
Cool link, Kim..thanks!
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 11:07 AM |
|
|
Quietlightpro2
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
I would be more interested in shutter count (to gauge use) and then just check it out cosmetically.
I agree with Dave
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 04:03 PM |
|
|
indyjones
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
I agree with most others regarding actuations. When buying used, shutter count is #1 on the checklist. Operations/Functionality, probably #2. Cosmetics, maybe #3.
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 04:25 PM |
|
|
panos.v
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
hillsidekim wrote:
See
http://olegkikin.com/shutterlife/nikon_d200.htm and although there is really not much data yet for the D300, check out some of the other Nikon camers listed on the right of the page and you may be surprised.
Not sure how that site is of any use at all, all it tells you is that sh!t happens and the shutter can crap out at 200 shots (like someone there claims) or that it will survive 2,543,698 (!!! wtf?) like somebody else claims.
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 04:38 PM |
|
|
waynesot
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
Thanks for all of the helpful responses!!!
I checked out the 5 month old D300 today and took some test shots. The body is a 9.7 out of 10 as far as the condition of the body goes. Using Opanda software the total number of shutter releases is 451. Tonight I will look at the test shot more closely, but at first glance they look fine. The owner has all original accessories and manuals that came with the camera, but does not have the sales receipt or original box. I asked her to see if she could get a copy of the sales receipt from the place where she purchased the camera.
On Friday I will be checking out/testing another used D300. This one is about 1 year old and the owner says it has 7000-8000 shutter releases.
All else being equal, I will probably go with the newer of the two.
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 07:00 PM |
|
|
panos.v
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
waynesot wrote:
Using Opanda software the total number of shutter releases is 451.
5 months and 451 shots? You should give that camera a good home!
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 07:02 PM |
|
|
henryp
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
David Muncie wrote:
I'm almost positive that all USA model D300's do not come with a warranty card. Can anyone actually confirm that they received one?
From Nikon USA:
Digital SLR Camera Bodies and Coolpix Cameras
No registration or 'warranty' card is included or needed with a Nikon D-SLR or Coolpix camera. Keep your original, dated proof of purchase from the Authorized Nikon Inc. dealer in case warranty service is ever needed. These products do include either a mail-in form or a paper with a web link to our registration page:
http://www.nikonusa.com/registration
Hope this helps.
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 07:25 PM |
|
|
Chris Langer
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
| | p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
Get the 5 month old one. If its the same price there is no question. You are actually getting a killer deal if you do that.
Chris
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 07:53 PM |
|
|
loggerhead
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
Why would the warranty make a difference on the first camera anyway? It's over a year old. ANyway, camera two is a no-brainer to me!
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 08:15 PM |
|
|
Dav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
henryp wrote:
From Nikon USA:
Digital SLR Camera Bodies and Coolpix Cameras
No registration or 'warranty' card is included or needed with a Nikon D-SLR or Coolpix camera. Keep your original, dated proof of purchase from the Authorized Nikon Inc. dealer in case warranty service is ever needed. These products do include either a mail-in form or a paper with a web link to our registration page:
http://www.nikonusa.com/registration
Hope this helps.
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
I had a feeling that was the case. Thanks for clarifying Henry
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 09:37 PM |
|
|
camerapapi
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
Although I do not abuse my cameras I cannot remember a single instance when a shutter failure kept me from shooting. It seems that Nikon cameras have shutters that could last and last.
I agree with others, if the younger camera sells for the same price the choice is obvious.
Practically everyone today asks for shutter actuations before buying a used camera.
William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.
| | Mar 18, 2009 at 09:54 PM |
|
|
waynesot
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
UPDATE:
I ended up purchasing a new D300. The owner that had the newer of the two used D300's decided she didn't want to sell just the body. The other owner didn't want to come off of his $1200 asking price. I was able to purchase a new D300 from B&H for $1450 (no tax). To me the $250 difference wasn't worth it for a used D300. So I'm now the proud owner of a new D300
| | Mar 26, 2009 at 07:17 PM |
|
|
surgeon1
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
| | p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Nikon D300 Buying Used - Serial Number |
Good Choice. That is a great price for a brand new D300. Hope you like your new camera.
David
| | Mar 26, 2009 at 07:28 PM |
|
|
|
